Method and apparatus for searching contents

Abstract

A contents searching apparatus that includes a level setting unit configured to group contents according to specified regional standards and set an expansion level to at least one group based on contents distribution, and an interface unit configured to select one of the at least one group to which the expansion level is set. The contents searching apparatus also includes a control unit providing contents of the selected group according to the expansion level of the selected group by enlarging a map.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A contents searching method, comprising:
 grouping contents according to specified regional standards, and displaying on a map at least one group to which an expansion level is set according to contents distribution;   selecting one of the at least one group; and   displaying contents of the selected group by enlarging the map according to an expansion level of the selected group.   
     
     
         2 . The contents searching method of  claim 1 , further comprising automatically modifying a regional range of contents displayed on the map based on a screen size of a display device. 
     
     
         3 . The contents searching method of  claim 1 , further comprising automatically modifying a regional range of contents displayed on the map based on a resolution of a screen of a display device. 
     
     
         4 . The contents searching method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying information about an expansion level of the selected group when the at least one group is selected. 
     
     
         5 . The contents searching method of  claim 1 , wherein the grouping contents according to specified regional standards, and displaying on a map, at least one group to which an expansion level is set according to contents distribution comprises:
 receiving contents from the outside; and   grouping the received contents according to specified regional standards, and displaying on the map the at least one group to which an expansion level is set according to contents distribution.   
     
     
         6 . The contents searching method of  claim 5 , wherein receiving contents comprises receiving the contents from at least one device connected via a first network. 
     
     
         7 . The contents searching method of  claim 5 , wherein the receiving contents comprises receiving the contents via a web service. 
     
     
         8 . The contents searching method of  claim 1 , wherein the contents according to specified regional standards, and displaying on a map at least one group to which an expansion level is set according to contents distribution comprises:
 classifying contents according to specified classification standards; and   grouping the classified contents according to specified regional standards, and displaying on the map the at least one group to which an expansion level is set according to contents distribution.   
     
     
         9 . The contents searching method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying contents of the selected group by enlarging the map according to an expansion level of the selected group comprises:
 determining at least one display device connected via a second network; and   displaying contents of the selected group on the determined at least one display device by enlarging the map according to an expansion level of the selected group.   
     
     
         10 . A contents searching apparatus comprising:
 a level setting unit configured to group contents according to specified regional standards and set an expansion level to at least one group based on contents distribution;   an interface unit configured to select one of the at least one group to which the expansion level is set; and   a control unit configured to provide contents of the selected group according to the expansion level of the selected group by enlarging a map.   
     
     
         11 . The contents searching apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the control unit is configured to automatically modify a regional range of contents displayed on the map based on the size of a screen of a display device. 
     
     
         12 . The contents searching apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the control unit is configured to modify a regional range of contents displayed on the map based on the resolution of a screen of a display device. 
     
     
         13 . The contents searching apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a display unit, wherein when the at least one group is selected, the control unit is configured to generate information about an expansion level of the selected group, and the display unit is configured to display the information about the expansion level of the selected group. 
     
     
         14 . The contents searching apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a reception unit configured to receive contents from the outside,
 wherein the level setting unit is configured to group the received contents according to specified regional standards, and set an expansion level to at least one group based on contents distribution.   
     
     
         15 . The contents searching apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the reception unit is configured to receive the contents from at least one apparatus connected via a first network, 
     
     
         16 . The contents searching apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the reception unit is configured to receive the contents via a web service. 
     
     
         17 . The contents searching apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a classification unit configured to classify contents according to specified classification standards,
 wherein the level setting unit is configured to group the classified contents according to specified regional standards, and set an expansion level to at least one group based on contents distribution.   
     
     
         18 . The contents searching apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the control unit is configured to determine at least one display device connected via a second network, and provide the contents of the selected group to the determined at least one display device according to the expansion level of the selected group by enlarging the map. 
     
     
         19 . A computer-readable recording medium embodying a computer program comprising computer readable code for:
 grouping contents according to specified regional standards, and displaying on a map at least one group to which an expansion level is set according to contents distribution;   selecting one of the at least one group; and   displaying contents of the selected group according to the expansion level of the selected group by enlarging the map.